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Making More Disciples
By: Leith Anderson
Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Topic: Why evangelism is critical to the church and to every believer.
Big Idea: Evangelism is more than just giving information about Jesus; it includes making disciples who are committed to Christ for a lifetime.
Keywords: Discipleship; Evangelism; Obedience; Salvation
Introduction
- Illustration: Anderson tells a lengthy joke about a monk who is terrified of public speaking yet is ordered to give a homily. The punchline: "Let those who know, tell those who don't."
- The simple definition of evangelism: Those who know, telling those who don't.
What does evangelism mean?
- A fully biblical definition is the making of more disciples for Jesus Christ.
- "Evangelism" is a transliteration of the Greek words for "good message."
- Evangelism is persuading a person to be a disciple, obeying Christ's commands.
- There is no distinction between evangelism and discipleship; it's all connected.
- Wooddale Church's mission is to "honor God by making more disciples for Christ."
Christians and non-Christians place very different value on evangelism.
- In many countries, it's against the law to persuade someone to become a Christian.
- Illustration: Anderson relates a news story of two Filipino men who were sentenced to death for evangelizing in a Middle Eastern nation.
- Illustration: In the People's Republic of China, members of the government-permitted Three-Self Church are not allowed to evangelize. Fifty million Chinese Christians have joined the house-church movement because they believe evangelism is essential to Christianity.
- Many people today feel, "You believe what you believe; I believe what I believe; it's a private thing."
A Christian values evangelism for many reasons.
- Because God values evangelism, and we adopt God's values.
- Because we were evangelized; we thus want to spread the word.
- Illustration: Anderson tells how John Grisham's popularity came about not so much as a result of marketing or advertising, but word of mouth—resulting in millions of book sales. Grisham's work was thus "evangelized."
- Because we value other people and don't want them to be lost.
What to do if you value evangelism but don't know where to start.
- Pick three people and pray for them every day for a year.
- Illustration: Anderson tells of a concerted prayer effort at the Los Angeles Olympics and notes that the crime rate in Los Angeles County fell by 50 percent.
- Over a period of time, try to persuade someone to come to faith in Christ.
- Read a book on evangelism, such as Paul Little's How to Give Away Your Faith.
- Hitchhike on special opportunities at church, like holidays and big events.
Conclusion
- Let us be Christian in how we value evangelism, and in how we do it.
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